What is an Accessible Video Player?

When providing video content – either post-production or live – it is critical to pick a video player that can support accessibility features. Some features of fully accessible video players include:

  • Closed captioning (in some cases, this option is removed if a video is embedded in a web page)
  • Interactive transcript viewer
  • Secondary audio track for audio description (AD)

W3C Web Accessibility Initiative: Media Players

3Play Media: How to Test Video Players for Accessibility

Viewing Recorded Videos at IC

There are a number of ways videos might be viewed at IC. Here is a comparison of just a few of them. Please note: video players are updated all of the time. The information provided here is current as of the indicated date.
  • Closed Captions (viewed in the video player): Yes
  • Interactive Transcription Viewer: Yes
  • Secondary Audio Track: No
  • Closed Captions (viewed in the video player): Yes
  • Interactive Transcription Viewer: No
  • Secondary Audio Track: No
  • Closed Captions (viewed in the video player): No (captions can be viewed if the video is opened in YouTube)
  • Interactive Transcription Viewer: No
  • Secondary Audio Track: No
  • Closed Captions (viewed in the video player): Yes
  • Interactive Transcription Viewer: No
  • Secondary Audio Track: No (videos with AD are uploaded as separate files)
  • Closed Captions (viewed in the video player): Yes
  • Interactive Transcription Viewer: Yes
  • Secondary Audio Track: No
  • Closed Captions (viewed in the video player): Yes
  • Interactive Transcription Viewer: No
  • Secondary Audio Track: No
  • Closed Captions (viewed in the video player): Yes
  • Interactive Transcription Viewer: No
  • Secondary Audio Track: No

Table of Options for Viewing Recorded Videos at IC

Platform CCs (viewed in player) Transcript Viewer Secondary Audio Track (for Audio Description)
Zoom Yes Yes No
Videos in or embedded from My Media in Sakai Yes No No
YouTube videos embedded in Sakai No, but captions can be viewed if opened in YouTube. No No
Media.ithaca.edu Yes No No (videos with AD are uploaded as separate files)
Microsoft Stream Yes Yes No
VoiceThread Yes No No
FlipGrid Yes No No